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Grampian Mountains, ScotlandThe Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland They extend southwest to northeast between the Highland Boundary Fault and Glen Mor (the Great Glen), occupying almost half of the land-area of Scotland. The mountain range includes Ben Nevis, the highest point in the British Isles at 1,343 meters above sea level. Ben Macdui, the second highest mountain at 1,309 meters also lies in the Cairngorm region of the Grampians. The area is minimally populated other than in a few areas such as Aviemore, a winter holiday and snow-sporting centre. The mountains are composed of granite, gneiss, marble, schists and quartzite. Numerous rivers rise in the Grampians such as the Spey, the Don, the Dee, the Esk and the Tay. The name Grampians is believed have first been applied to the mountain range in 1520 by the historian Hector Boece, a transliteration of the Roman Mons Graupius, recorded by Tacitus as the site of the defeat of the native Picts by general Gnaeus Julius Agricola (his father-in-law) circa 83 AD. Prior to this the area was known as the Mounths, a name still held by a number of geographical features. The Grampians are considered to be the separation between the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. Other major mountain ranges in Scotland are the Northwest Highlands and the Cheviot Hills.
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